leveaux



V4 sheets-sheet 1'. E. H. LEVEAUX.

. PatGIltGd 001'.. 4,1881.

(No Model.)`

APPARATUS FOR STU-RING AND TRANSMITTING MOTIVB PGWBR, am. No. 247,993

(No Model.) 4 SheetsQ-Sheet 2.

.H.LEVEAUX.

APPARATUS POR STORING AND TRANSMITTING MO-TIVE POWER, 6m.

No. 247,993. Patented Oct. 4,188.1.

W'ITNESSEE. INVNTR N. PETERS. mmumuppner. www. n.0.

. 4 sheets-sheet 3.

(No Model.)

E.. H. LBVBAUX. APPARATUS POR STORING AND TRANSMITTING MOTIVE POWER, 650. No'

Patented Oct. 4, 1881: I'g. 4L,

NVNTUR N. PUERS. www* wminpmpc (No Mfodelg) 4 Shetsv-Sheet 4.

B.H.LBVEAUX.

APPARTU POR STORING- AND TRANSMITTING MOTIVI: POWER, am. No. 247,993. Patented Oct. 4, 1881.

16 Si uls Y ,gli S4 WITNEEEES 5. INV NTR, l

n PETERS. muumnpw. www 1C- UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD. H. LEVEAUX, OF THE CHASE, OLAPHAM COMMON, COUNTY OF SURREY, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR STORING AND TRANSMITTING MOTIVE POWER, &c.

SPECIFICATION'forming partof LettcrsQPatent No. 247,993, dated October4, 1881.

Application filed August 29, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England February 27, 3879, in France August 27, 1879, in Germany- September 30, 1879, and in British India-February 26, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

vBe it known that I, EDWAR) HENRY LE- VEAUX, of The Chase, Clapham Common, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented cerrangement of spring mechanism'fordriving machines or carriages; also to the means for indicating the amount of motive force supplied to or contained at any given moment in such spring mechanism. n

The apparatus consists of a series of coiled springs fitted to containing-barrels, the number of such springs and barrels being determined by the amount of motive force required to be stored.

In apparatus of this class as heretofore constructed the barrels of. the whole series were so connected together that all the coiled sprin gs, when the apparatus was started, would come into action simultaneously. Thus the motive force ofthe last springof the series would be delivered to the driving-shaft through all the springs of the series, and thereby an undue amount of friction was created. I now propose not only to obviate this inconvenience, but also to provide means for indicating the amount of motive force supplied to or contained at any given moment in 'each set of the spring-barrels.

The apparatus may contain one, two, or more sets of these spring-barrels, and the sets will each be wound up by direct connection with the shaft, which is the source of power.

In Sheets I and II of the accompanying drawings I have shown an arrangement of motive-power apparatus suitable for driving fixed or stationary machines--such, for example,as sewing-machines-Figure 1 beinga plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a partial sectional elevation taken in the line l 2-of Fig. 1, and Fig.' 3 a partial sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 2 and in the line 3 4 of Fig. l.

4 In this arrangement of apparatus two sets of barrels only areshown but it will be presplained.

ently manifest that any desired number of sets may `be combined to make the motive force of the apparatus equal to workin g a drivin g-shaft forany desired number of hours. These sets are. composed each of three barrels, A, 'which barrels each contain two coiled springs, B B', the spring B coilng, say, to the rightv and the spring Bto the left, and so on throughout the series. The sets of barrels A are mounted loosely on dead-axles C, iixed to the frame D of the apparatus. Strung upon these deadaxles C are short sleeve-arbors E E E2, and it is upon these that the barrels are respectively loosely mounted. The sleeve E of each set of A barrels enters its barrel and extends to about the middle of the barrels length, in order that a coiled spring, B, may be attached thereto,-

the other end 'of which spring is attached to the barrel. In like manner the spring B in the same barrel is connected at one end to the barrel and at its other end to a second sleeve, E', which sleeve extends into the next adjacent barrel, to connect with thespiing B of that barrel, and thus inlike manner all the springs in the set are connected with their respective barrels and sleeves. The sleeve E2, which is the last of the series of sleeves, carries external of its barrel a chain-wheel, for giving off the power of the set of spring-barrels, as will be hereinafter explained. This chain-wheel is fitted with a friction surface for receiving a brake-strap, which serves to hold theend sleevearbor stationary while the winding up of the apparatus takes place.

v For winding up the barrels of the several sets simultaneously the following coutrivance is employed: Keyedv upon each sleeve-arborE is a worm-wheel, F, into which gears a worm, y

G, mounted loosely on a winding-shaft, H, and made fast thereto by a sliding clutch, which is held inl the locking position by the pressure of a coiled spring, and is capable of being disengaged from the worm, as will be presently ex- When rotary motion is imparted to the shaft H by a .winch-handle or equivalent means thebarrels and sleeves will be caused to wind up their coiled springs, and thus a giving out this force to a driving-shaft, I, the chain-wheels K K are employed.l

Mounted loosely on the shaft I are chainwheels L L, which receive motion from the wheels IC by the chains L. By the side of these wheels L are ratchet-wheels M, which are keyed to the shaft I, and by means of pawls carried by the bosses of the chain-wheels a connection will he established between them andthe ratchet-wheels M; or the chain-wheels L may be formed with a ring of ratchet-teeth to receive pawls carried by adisk, as at M, keyed to the driving-shaft I.

For driving the shaft I, which is to give oii' its power to the machinery required to be actuated, itis only necessary, when the barrels are wound up, to release one or more ofthe retainingbrakes, and the chain-wheels K (one or more) will be set in action and caused to im-4 part a rotary motion to the shaft I.

In order that the amount of power expended may be determined at a glance, the apparatus is provided with an indicator, the nature ot' which I will now explain.

Adjacent to each main wheel F, and ou the same arbor, is a spur-wheel, N, for transmitting rotary motion through a spur-wheel, O, to a screw-shaft, I), lying parallel with the barrels. This wheel O has its bearings in the framing, and through it one end of the shaft l? passes, it being connected thereto by a feather. To the screwed end of this shaft is fitted loosely a spur-wheel, Q, with a threaded boss, such wheel being mounted in the framing, so that it may act as a stationary nut. This wheel is driven from a spur-wheel, It, keyed to the sleeve-arbor E2 ot' the last spring of the set.

On the screw-shaft is mounted loosely' between xed collars a block, S, which carries a pointer. This pointer S, as the shaft is moved endwise by reason of the rotation of the spur-wheel Q, travels over a graduated scale xed to a table carried by the framing D and slotted to allow of the pointer reaching to the scale. This slot (shown at T) also forms a guide for the traversing block S. The pointer will thus indicate, according to the direction of its movement, either the progress of the winding up of the barrels or the unwinding of the coiled springs and the expenditure of the stored power. The endwise traverse of the screw-shaft I use to throw the clutch before mentioned out ot' gear when the barrels are wound up, and thereby to stop the furtheraction of the driving-shaft. To this end the space corresponding with the traverse motion of the pointer is embraced by a sliding piece, U, fitted in the slot T of the table. This sliding piece carries an incline at one end, against which incline lies a bowl carried by one end of a rock-lever, V, the other end ot' which terminates in aI fork that embraces the sliding clutch. As the set of barrels is wound up the pointer advances, and, pressing against the slide, causes its incline to tip the rock-lever, and thereby throw the clutch out of action.

As, however, the torce ofthe springs is being given oftthe pointer will travel back, and, striking the slide U as the power becomes expended, it will release the rock-lever and allow the spring-clutch to lock the worm G to its shaft.

As each set ofspring-barrels is similarly provided with the above-described indicator, and each has also its brake-wheel and chain wheel, it will be obvious that the motion ot' each set will be independently transmitted to the receiving or transmitting shaft I, and in succession or simultaneously, as thought desirable.

In Sheets III and IV of the drawings I have shown my above-described apparatus as arranged f'or use in a tram-carriage, Fig. L being a partial plan View of the apparatus, and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 sectional elevations taken respectively in the lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and l0 of Fig. 4.

As the same letters ot' reference are used in Sheets l and II for the like parts, a repetition of the preceding description will be unnecessary. It will only, therefore, be requisite to ex plain the means adopted for bringing the indicating apparatus within view to suit the special requirements of the case.

The block S, instead of carrying the pointer, is now provided with a pin, which takes into the arm S of a rock-shaft, S2, having its bearings in the framing ofthe carriage. An arm, S3, at the forward end of this shaft, and set at right angles to the arm S', is connected to a vertical sliding bar, S4, to which the pointer S5 is attached. Adjacent to this pointeris a graduated scale, SG, upon which is indicated, by means of the rise and fall of the pointer, the traverse ofthe block S, and consequently the state of the winding-up apparatus, both as respects the amount of winding up effected and the amount of power given off by the coiled springs.

Having now set forth the nature of my invention ot'improvements in apparatus for storing and transmitting motive power and for indicating the supply and expenditure of the saine, I wish it to be understood thatI claiml. The arrangement of apparatus above described, consisting of a set or sets of springbarrels, A, and sleeve-arbors E E E2, strung loosely upon a dead axle or axles, C, the barrels and sleeve-arbors of each set being connected together by coiled springs B B', such springs being wound up by worms and worinwheels and prevented from uncoiling by friction-brakes or their equivalent, the end sleeve arbors carrying chain-wheels K,'for transmitting through endless chains motion directly to a common shaft, whereby motive power may be stored in independent sets of barrels, and may be given oi' from one set at a time or from all the sets simultaneously, as desired.

2. In combination with aset or sets ofspringbarrels, arranged as described, the traveling indicator S, mounted on a screwed shaft, l?, which receives rotary motion from the first sleeve-arbor, E, and an endwise motion from the threaded hub ofthe wheel Q, which is driven IOO IOS

IIO

Y from thelast sleeve-arbor,E2, such traveling the possibility of 'overwnding the coiled 1o indicator serving to show at alltimcs the exsprings.

n tent to which the springs have been wound up EDW. H. 'LEVEAUX or unwound. Witnesses: v 5 3. In combination with the screwed indica- UPPERTON LEAR, Y

tor-shaft P, the sliding piece U, forl throwing Solv., Littlehotmpton, England, out of action through a rock-lever, V, or its ETHEL B. LEVEAUX,

equivalent, the clutch which connects the worm Wife of Joseph Lambert Leceau, 15 Steg/ne, G with its driving-shaft, and thereby prevents Bognor, England. 

